Material-handling device



April 26, 1927.

W. S. RUSSELL MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 16, 1926 2 Sheeis-Sheet l il 26 1927. Apr w. s. RUSSELL MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE 2 Sheets$heet 2 Filed June 16, 1926 Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES W'AL'IER S. RU ESELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MATERIAL-I'IANDLING DEVIGE.

Application filed June 16, 1926.

This invention has to do generally with material handling devices, and iscspecially well adapted for embodiment in devices for handling sizable rocks, though in no way limited to such specific embodiment. In order that the nature and objects of the invention may be clearly pointed out, I have chosen to describe its embodiment in a device of this character, and from this description, those skilled in the art will readily understand howthe invention may be embodied in devices having. somewhat different physical characteristics, especially when materials other than sizable rocks are to be handled.

. In quarrying large rocks, great diificulty has been had in loading cars economically and expeditiously. This condition arises mainly as a consequence of the necessity for screening out smaller particles before the car is loaded and fromthe destructive efiect of chuting large rocks against the sides of the cars. Since it is essential that the liner material be screened out, the use of a steam shovel to load the cars directly is precluded, and consequently it is common practice to run a line of dump cars from the cut to a central handling plant where the creening and loading is accomplished. This double 30 handling is, of course, an expensive procedure' and after the screening is finished, there still exists the necessity for chuting the larger rocks into the car. The consequent battering of the car sides is most destructive and it is not at all unusual to find a car body wrecked after one or two loadings.

I overcome these objectionable features by providing a platform upon which is a normally horizontal chute, preferably in the form of a heavy screen.- For instance, it may include a bottom made up of a plurality of heavy grizzly bars. The material is do- ]ivered to this chute either from a. bin or directly from a steam shovel, the liner particles of the material passing through the grating which is thereupon inclined to direct the later rocks into the open side of a bucket by which delivery is made to cars. In a copending application entitled Material handling device,- Serial No. 79,062, filed by me January 4, 1926, I have shown an arrangement having the above generalcharacteristies, In the arrangement there shown, the (r-i'ed'to dumping position over nervously with H fierial No. 116,264.

of the platform chute. In the present case, I have shown a device wherein the bucket is moved vertically and its movement may be entirely independent of chute movement.

Dumping from the bucket is accomplished by opening bottom gates, and since the buckets, in dumping position, maybe relatively close to the. car bottom, when the gates are opened the rocks have but little fall, and therefore, the shoc of their impact with the car bottom is so slight that no appreciable damage is done. In certain instances, it is even possible to lower the bucket until it engages or very nearly engages, the car bottom. Bythen releasing the gate holding means and subsequently raising the bucket, the rocks are, in cite ct, merely laid upon the car bottom. As the height of the rock deposit in the car increases, the bucket may be lowered to a lesser degree before it is dumpech Other objects and novel features of the invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description wherein reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of ei- Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig.- l; and

Fig. lis a fragmentary section on line et-4 of Fig. 1. p

In the drawings I have shown a tower frame consisting of inclined uprights 10, cross braces 11 and headers 12, 18, 1 1 and 15. A loading platform P is associated with the tower at a point spaced above the base thereof and. -rests upon cross pieces 16, which are secured to uprights 10, and extends as at 17 partly into the tower, Dropped from the end of extension 17 is an apron 18 which is supported at its lower end by member 19 on braces 20, the latter extending between two of the uprights 10. During certain stages of operation apron 18 forms a closure for the otherwise open side of bucket B;

Chute 21 may have a grating or grizzlybar bottom 22, and is pivoted at 23 on block 24 at the end oi? extension 1?. Normally, chute 21 is in the horizontal position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, its rearward end resting on block 25 which extends up war dly' from 1platform P. The chute may be loaded directry train a steam-shovel or from a second t: .lz" supported above plattmrnr 1 by structure 27. The forward end of chute 21 opens into bucket B through open side 28 thereof, so when the chute is raised to the full line position shown in Fig. 1, material within the chute slides into the bucket, the bucket ordinarily, though not necessarily, being in the raised positionindicated by full lines in Fig. 1 when material is thus delivered to it.

While it lies within the scope of my invention to move chute 21 pivotally from horizontal to inclined position with any suitable mechanism, I prefer to utilize tackle such as is here illustrated and including a bridle 30 pivotally secured to the chute at 31 and carrying link 32- which, in turn, sup ports sheave 33. A grizzly-hoist cable 34 is anchored to link 32 at 35 and is trained around crown sheave 36, around sheave 33 and over crown sheaves 37 and 88 to sheave 39 (Fig. 3) at the base of the tower. From sheave 39 cable 34- leads to drum l-0 of the hoisting mechanism conventionally illustrated at H. Shaft 41 designates the power shaft of this mechanism and is adapted selectively to drive drums 4:2 and L3, as well as drum 40. Suitable clutches 44:, which are shown conventionally since they may be of any well known suitable type, provide means whereby the drums may be driven simultaneously in the same or opposite directions, or independently of one another, and each of the drums has a usual brakin mechanism indicated conventionally at and which may be actuated selectively in the usual manner for retarding or stopping rotation of the associated drums.

Secured to tower frame braces 11 are vertical posts l6 which serve to guide bucket: B throughout its vertical movement. This bucket preferably is substantially rectangular in horizontal cross-section, and the nose 47 of chute 21 is preferably adapted to extend through the open side 28 of the bucket in order to prevent spillage of material between the chute and bucket. The bucket may also have an outwardly turned lip 48 winch is disposed at side 28 below nose ll and extends into proximity with apron 18 to prevent material within the bucket from spilling through the open side and down wardly along apron 18 as the bucket is lowered. Vertically spaced channels 49 are secured to the sides of bucket B and extend therebeyond into facial engagement with posts 46, the channels being adapted to engage said posts slidably as the bucket is reciprocated vertically and thus serve to hold the bucket from swinging from left to right as viewed in Fig. 2. Angle irons 50 are secured to the inner faces of channels l9 and slidingly engage the opposed inner faces of post 46 as the bucket is reciprocated, thus serving to hold the bucket from swinging to left orright as viewed in Fig. 1.

Bucket B has a downwardly opening mouth 51, and closures for this month are provided in the form of gates 51 which are hinged at 52 to opposite side plates of the bucket, and when closed are inclined as shown in Fig.1 to form a hopper bottom.

The bucket lowered and raised by cable 53 which is secured at 5-.t to a bridle 55 extending upwardly from bucket 13. This bridle also carries a sheave 5G, and cable 5 3 runs from bridle 55 over crown block 57, thence around sheave 56, and then over crown sheaves .58 and idler .38 at the base of the tower to drum 42.

Each side of the bucket is provided with gate control mechanism. but since these mechanisms are identical. I will describe but one in detail. A pair of links 59 are pivot ally connected, one each, to gates 51 at their lower ends, the opposite ends of the links being pivotally connected at (it) by shaft (ll, and on the shaft is carried a sheave 633. ll will be seen that movementbodily of shaft 61 or sheave 62 vertically with respect to the bucket will vary the angularity of links 59 and raise or lower gates 51. This movement of the links is accomplished through dump control cable 63 which is anchored at Gel on yoke 65 carried by shaft 61 and passes over crown sheave 66, around sheave 62 and then over crown sheave 67 to drum 43. Cable 63 from the opposite gate control meclumisn'i is trained in the same manner over corresponding sheaves 66, 62 and 67, being trained around idlers 67 and 67 to bring it to the opposite side of the tower, from which position it passes to drum 43.

hen chute 21 is inclined to empty its contents into bucket B, it will be seen that material in the bucket as well as the weight of the gates tends to swing said gates open to the dotted line position of Fly. 1, but that by holding the links 59 from spreading movement, this gate opening tendency is re sisted. The holding of the links is accomplished, of course, by holding cable 6 .3 through the medium of the brakes on drum 43 so sheave 62 is incapable of movement vertically with respect to the bucket. However, as bucket l) is lowered by paying out cable 53, it is necessary that drums 453 and t8 be rotated simultaneously so cables of; and 63 are paid out at the same speed as cable 53, tension thus being maintained on cables 63 and 63 in order to maintain the gates in closed position. As soon the bucket is lowered to dumping position (see Fig. 1) and this position will be determined by the size of the load, height of the floor of car R, size of the rocks, etc, drum 4-3 is rotated independently of drum 42 to pay out cables 63 and 62 8 independently of the bucket hoist line. This allows vertical movement of sheave 62 and links 59 with respect to the bucket, whereupon the load within the loo bucket as well as the weight of gates 51 swing Said gates downwardly to open mouth 51 and allow the discharge of the load to the. car. Of course, if it be desired to open the gates gradually during the descension of the bucket, this may be done by paying out cables 63, 63 a little faster than cable 53, or, by proper manipulation of the several cables, the gates may be opened gradually or suddenly during the ascension of the bracket.

During the descension of the bucket, the open side 28 thereof traverses apron 18, and the latter functions as a side wall for the bucket to prevent the spillage of material therefrom.

When the gates are to be closed, drum 43 is rotated to take up cables 63 and 63 thus raising sheaves 62, 62 with respect to the bucket and thus varying the angularity of links 59 in a manner to swing gates 01 inwardly toward the full line position of Fig. 10. Assuming the bucket has not been raised during the closing movement of the gates, as soon as the gates are closed and the bucket is raised by rotation of drum 42, coincident and equal effective rotation of drum 43 is necessary in order that slack may not develop in the dump control cables. The gates may be closed during the ascension of the bucket; or if desired, the bucket may be raised to load receiving position before the gates are fully closed or before they have started to close, but in this latter event, slack will develop in the dump control cables unless drum 43 is rotated coincidently to take up this slack; it then requiring independent subsequent taking up of cables 63, 63 to close the gates.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:

it. In a device of the cha 'acter described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable vertically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket: a loading chute pivotally mounted on the frame and normally supported in horizontal position to receive its load, the chute being adapted to deliver its load to the bucket through said open side when the chute is pivotally moved out of horizontal position, and means for moving the chute pivotally.

Q. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable rcrtically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket, meanson the frame adapted to close the open side of the bucket during its movement; a loading chute pivotally mounted on the frame and normally supported in horizontal position to receive its load, the chute being adapted to deliver its load to the bucket through said open side when the chute is pivotally moved out of horizontal position, and means for moving the chute pivotally.

In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable vertically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket, and means on the frame adapted to close the open side of the bucket during its movement.

4. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable vertically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket, and a stationary apron positioned to be traversed by the bucket and close the open side thereof during its movement.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable vertically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket, means for controlling the opening and forcing the closing of the gates; a loading chute pivotally mounted on the frame and normally supported in horizontal position to receive its load, the chute being adapted to deliver its load to the bucket through said open side when the chute is pivotally moved out of horizontal position, and means for moving the chute pivotally.

6. In a device of the character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated with the frame, downwardly opening gates for the discharge mouth of the bucket, said bucket being open at one side and being movable vertically with respect to the frame whereby the elevation of the discharge mouth may be varied, means for so moving the bucket, means for controlling the openllii " and norma ing and forcing the closing of the gates, said last mentioned means being operable throughout vertical movement of the bucket, a load ing chute aivotally mounted on the frame lly supported in horizontal position to receive its load, the chute being adapted to deliver its load to the bucket through said open side when the chute is pivotally moved out of horizontal osition,

andmeans for moving the chute pivotally.

7 In a device otthe character described, a supporting frame, a dump bucket associated wlth the frame, downwardly opening 

